Drifting Jeannette Expedition

jeannette trapped in ice off herald island

the initial direction of ship s drift haphazard, , forth—on october 3, month after jeannette first trapped, herald island still in sight. october developed, direction of drift shifted northwest, , became apparent de long wrangel s land not after land mass, relatively small island. @ same time, analyses of sea currents, salinity , temperature provided data confirming geodetic survey s findings, known in washington, kuro siwo had no effect north of bering strait. vista of endless ice surrounding ship raised profound doubts entire concept of open polar sea.

amid boredom of largely eventless drift, crew ate well; ship s stores boosted regular hunting parties brought harvest of seal , polar bear meat. in late october, winter approached, de long ordered edison arc lighting system erected, generating mechanism failed produce dimmest of lights, , apparatus swiftly abandoned, along equally ineffective telephone system. christmas 1879, , start of new year, celebrated without great joy; de long wrote of christmas dreariest day of life, , dreariest part of world .

on january 19, 1880, jeannette s hull breached ice, , began take in water rapidly. de long prepared abandon ship, saved actions of nindemann , sweetman, waded freezing water in hold , staunched inflow stuffing whatever materials available breaches. melville used elements of discarded edison apparatus build mechanical pumping system, , problem largely resolved construction of new watertight bulkhead. de long noted in journal efforts of nindemann , sweetman @ least worthy of recommendation medal of honor.

for months on end jeannette hardly moved @ all; de long recorded on march 2 position precisely had been 3 months earlier. on may 5, ship passed west of 180° meridian, 2 months later had retreated other side of line. summer brought no relief; although briefly seemed possible in august jeannette might break free , find open water, proved false hope. condition of danenhower further source of anxiety. syphilis began take toll of body, particularly left eye which, despite ambler s repeated operations—stoically endured, given lack of anesthetic—left navigator largely incapacitated , unable perform duties. on last day of 1880 de long wrote in journal: begin new year turning on new leaf, , hope god turning on new leaf in our book of luck .